The one-man wrecking ball responsible for reopening Bruce Lehrmann’s successful defamation trial also had a role to play in another infamous Channel Seven debacle.
Presenter Matt Doran achieved global infamy after not listening to Adele’s new album before an exclusive chat with her in London in November 2021, which was part of a $1 million package Seven had signed with the hitmaker. ‘Hello’.
The Weekend Sunrise presenter, 41, was suspended by the network for two weeks and forced to eat humbly after Adele’s record label Sony refused to release the footage.
But it has since emerged that Taylor Auerbach was the producer of the ill-fated trip to London.
Auerbach is the former Spotlight journalist who last week uncovered Mr Lehrmann’s defamation suit against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.
He gave evidence more than two days after filing a 2,300-page affidavit alleging that the Seven Network covered the cost of lavish dinners, cocaine and Thai prostitutes for Lehrmann.
Clearly no stranger to controversy, media pundits now claim that Auerbach should have taken the blame, along with Doran, for Adele’s botched interview.
“On these types of stories, the producer’s job is to make sure all the research has been done and the journalist has everything they need,” a Seven source told The Australian. media diary.
Presenter Matt Doran (pictured) achieved global infamy after not listening to Adele’s new album before an exclusive chat with her in London in November 2021, which was part of a $1 million package Seven had signed with the ‘Hello’ hitmaker (pictured below)
Matt Doran shared a selfie on Instagram on the day of the interview where producer Taylor Auerbach can be seen smiling alongside a cameraman with Tower Bridge in the background (pictured).
“But when the Adele thing blew up, Taylor didn’t take the heat publicly.”
WhatsNew2Day Australia has approached Mr Auerbach for comment.
Doran shared a selfie on Instagram on the day of the interview in which Mr. Auerbach can be seen smiling next to a cameraman with Tower Bridge in the background.
Do it again with the boys! This one is going to be pretty special…’ Doran captioned the post.
Reports later emerged that an “offended” Adele had “stormed” out of the interview, after Doran told her he had only heard one song from her latest release.
Sony, which had filmed the interview instead of Seven, responded by banning the network from broadcasting any part of it.
Doran claimed that he had “missed” an email containing a link to the new album the day after his arrival in London.
“It was an oversight, but not a deliberate snub,” he said.
“This is the most important email I’ve ever missed.”
It is unclear if Auerbach also received the same email.
Doran said he was “mortified and unequivocally sorry” for the episode.
“This story has provoked, around the world, a torrent of abuse and ridicule, and if I am honest with you, most of this savagery is deserved and I fully accept it,” he said.
But the TV personality also denied reports that Adele had “vanished”, insisting they spoke for a further nine minutes after he admitted not having listened to the album.
Seven reportedly spent $1 million on the ill-fated interview, in a deal that also saw them air an Oprah chat with Adele and footage from her One Night Only concert.
Doran got into trouble again in June last year when he disappeared while reporting on the Hunter Valley bus crash tragedy.
When he didn’t show up at his place in Sunrise, his concerned colleagues contacted the police.
It was found a short time later and did not air again for several weeks.
Auerbach (pictured) uncovered Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial last week
At the time of the interview with Adele, Auerbach was a producer on Spotlight.
The gaffe does not appear to have affected his career, as he worked on several high-profile interviews.
These included an exclusive interview with scammer Melissa Caddick’s husband and Bruce Lehrmann’s explosive two-part series.
Last week, Auerbach claimed she was offered a promotion and pay raise after spending $10,000 on Thai massages while trying to woo Lehrmann.
The Seven Network denies it has been offered a promotion. Mr. Lehrmann denies ever receiving a massage.